City rejects bids, re-appoints Lara

Published 7:07 am, Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Plainview’s city council voted to throw them out and start over, as bids submitted for the renovations of local streets were rejected Tuesday night with a unanimous vote.

The proposed project would see the renovations of 13th and 15th Streets near Walmart as well as a section of County Road Y, which leads to the city landfill.

However, with only three out-of-town companies making bids, which the city thought were higher than expected, as well as complications with the lowest bidder, the councilmembers voted to reject all the bids and start the process again.

The base bid included rebuilding 13th and 15th streets with asphalt as well as County Road Y. The first alternate bid would see asphalt on 13th and the installation of a concreate road on 15th Street. The second alternate added on Kermit Street between 13th and 15th Street.

The lowest bid was submitted by Advanced Paving, which offered $659,150, for the base bid and $140,800 for the second alternate. However, the City was concerned because Advanced Paving’s bonding company did not meet all federal requirements.

The council hopes the rebidding will bring in more companies and possibly local companies. It could also allow companies that did bid a chance to make necessary corrections.

Also on Tuesday, the City Council unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Sergio Lara as the Hale County Health Authority. Lara has served as the county’s health authority for the last two years and was reappointed for another two years at Tuesday’s regular session.

“Dr. Lara has done a fantastic job for us,” said City Manager Jeffery Snyder.

Other highlights of Tuesday’s regular session included a unanimous vote to authorize the mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement for Administrative Services between the City of Plainview and the South Plains Association of Governments.

With the agreement, the SPAG will be able to handle all the heavy paper work associated with a recent $1 million grant for Plainview’s developing business park.

The council also voted to designate the early voting ballot board judge and designate the district polling place judges and their pay rates.

Georgia Wall was named the early voting judge. District 1 judge will be Louisa Padilla; District 2 Cathy Waggoner; District 3 Cipriana Garcia; District 4 Sally Salinas; District 5 Georgia Wall; District 6, Sarah Castillo and District 7 Manuel Marin.

Election judges will make $10 an hour while clerks will make $8 an hour.